Window Watching: An Ogler’s 2023 Diary

metal casement windows with warm yellow glow in early morning blue light
It was dark outside, but 2023 started off with a warm glowing light in the early hours of morning. Blue hour window, Strip District (Jan. 9)

If a person’s eyes are the windows to their soul, then actual windows must be the eyes … to the outside world? redecorating options? exciting retail opportunities?

As we approach the end of another calendar year, some of us may reflect with the windows to our souls, but the looking back is probably more metaphorical. Today, though, we consider a year’s worth of very literal windows. It was shocking the number of glass-paned pictures that piled up in the ol’ photo log for 2023—so many that we could have filled multiple blog posts worth, but we decided to stick to the greatest hits.

The windows of homes are here—specifically row houses, for which sidewalk-facing windows have always served as tiny sets for dramas and expression—but also retail storefronts, industrial buildings, and one cemetery crypt.

Here’s looking at you, 2024!

large retail windows covered with weathered paper
Distressed/modern art window, Lawrenceville (Jan. 12)
window decorated with snowy winter scene
Winter scene window, Lawrenceville (Feb. 9)
window with cut-out cartoon dog and bones
Dog Training window, Tarentum (Feb. 18)
rental shop window with wooden cut-out storks for baby arrival
Double stork window, Tarentum (Feb. 18)
retail display box windows painted over with words "Ice Box"
Ice Box window, New Kensington (Feb. 25)
window with flower box filled with Easter bunnies
(Easter) bunny window, Bloomfield (March 7)
rowhouse window decorated for St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day window, Lawrenceville (March 12)
window inset to glass block wall with image of Jesus
Jesus window, Allentown (March 15)
stained class window and vase in cemetery mausoleum
Mausoleum stained glass window, Allegheny Cemetery (May 9)
window with handmade sign reading "Rock-in window. Dog dead"
“Rock-in window. Dog dead.” Homestead (May 5)
window with red curtain and paint can keeping window open
Paint can window, Polish Hill (May 10)
retail storefront window with mannequins in ballet dance wear
The Dancer’s Perfect Fit window, Strip District (May 17)
rowhouse window decorated with flowers in vase and statuette of Jesus
Jesus window, Bloomfield (May 19)
rowhouse window decorated with skeleton, baby dolls, stuffed animals
It’s Halloween somewhere window, Bloomfield (June 22)
window inset into glass block wall with patriotic decorations
Patriot/scarecrow window, Carnegie (June 30)
window in brick house decorated with American flag and bunting
Patriot/face window, West Newton (July 4)
window in brick building reflecting sky and power lines
Reflection/power line window, Transmission Magician, Bloomfield (July 11)
rowhouse window with statuette of Mary
Mary window, Bloomfield (July 14)
rowhouse window with large cross and small statuette of Jesus
Jesus window, Lawrenceville (Aug. 1)
rowhouse window with cat laying on sill
Cat window, Lawrenceville (Aug. 17)
rowhouse window with lace curtain
Lace window, Lawrenceville (Oct. 4)
window with newspaper covering glass
Newspaper window, Lawrenceville (Oct. 10)
large former window painted over as part of large mural
Mural window, Morgantown, WV (Oct. 17)
rowhouse window decorated for Christmas
Christmas window, Lawrenceville (Dec. 7)
large window to bar with letters reading in reverse
There’s some ho ho ho’s in this window, Lawrenceville (Dec. 9)

One thought on “Window Watching: An Ogler’s 2023 Diary”

  1. rogerbeal47 says:
    Reply

    There’s a term (which I cannot recall) for displays that unintentionally become works of art. Got a few of those in your collection.

    Like

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